Purpose

The Sunshine Coast Road Safety Plan 2016-2020[1609KB] (the Plan) provides the framework for improving road safety across the Sunshine Coast local government area. The Plan will ensure that planning and management for road safety is current, consistent and coordinated.

The Plan has been formulated using the principles of the Safe System Framework, which guides road safety policy in Australia and addresses the goals of safer roads and roadsides, safer speeds, safer vehicles and safer people.

Council is committed to working towards a reduction of fatalities, serious crashes and injuries on Sunshine Coast roads. With unprecedented population growth in the region, considerable effort is required to achieve this.

Why road safety

Road safety is important, so that all drivers use roads safely and cautiously to help keep themselves, passengers, motorists and pedestrians safe. Traffic crashes are a leading case of injury in Australia, but they can usually be avoided if drivers are careful and not distracted. Council has a responsibility for funding, planning, designing and operating the road networks on the Sunshine Coast.

Vision

Council’s vision for road safety is for the Sunshine Coast to be recognised as a place which provides a safe travel environment for all road users.

The targets to evaluate progress towards this vision include:

fewer fatalities and hospitalisations in our region than the Queensland average

fewer crashes than the previous five-year average.

The plan has been formulated using the principles of the Safe System Framework, which guides road safety policy in Australia and addresses the goals of safer roads and roadsides, safer speeds, safer vehicles and safer people. The plan focuses on:

driver education

crash investigation and prevention

pedestrian and cycling facilities

speed management measures.

Council will work collaboratively with road safety agencies in the region, including the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Police Service to identify and address local road safety issues. The plan is available in council’s customer service centres or online.